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Samuels Progresses; Portis Top October Player

Coach Jim Zorn said he was very enthused by how well Pro Bowl left tackle Chris Samuels got through practice today, and expects him to start Monday despite his knee ailment, while receiver Santana Moss sat out practice with a mild hamstring strain but is expected to play, too. Kick returner Rock Cartwright sat out with a minor knee strain, but is slated to play.

Zorn said that he does not expect the problem to be "enough to hold out " Moss, whom he referred to as an indispensable cog in the offense. Running back Clinton Portis, the league's leading rusher and the NFC's Offensive Player of the Month for October, rested again with his hip and ankle sore, but he is slated to carry a heavy load again Sunday.

The Redskins also rested two starting defensive backs who have been missing practice in recent weeks - safety LaRon Landry (hamstring) and corner Carlos Rogers (foot), but both have been playing regularly and are slated to start against Pittsburgh. Starting guard Pete Kendall rested his arthritic knees - as has been happening every Wednesday - though he continues to play every week.

Those sitting out practices are being asked to put in extra work in the meeting rooms Zorn said, though merely staying warm on the sidelines during this blustery afternoon was likely a workout enough, with the wind whipping. Zorn did not have the team in full pads, unlike most Wednesday, but with so many players beat up and with an extra work day ahead of the Monday night game, he opted for shells and sweats.

Zorn pointed to Portis's player of the month honors as a team accolade, as the running game has been a byproduct of stout blocking from the fullback, tight ends and offensive line as well. "It's kind of a team award in my mind, too," Zorn said.

Overall, Zorn is bracing for an ugly defensive struggle against the Steelers, with neither team scoring a ton of touchdowns lately, and both defenses beating people up.

"This is going to be a real defensive battle," Zorn said. "Both defenses are head of the offenses ... Both teams are very physical."

Barack Obama has decided to tax Clinton Portis' yards gained. He want to "spread those yard around" to RB who haven't had as good of a season.

So anyone who rushes for over 1100 this season will lose those extra yards and those yards will be given to all the RB's that rushed for under 1000 yards so that they have an opportunity to reach the 1000 yard milestone like everyone else.

In addition all teams that finish over .500 will be taxed on the extra wins and those wins will go to teams that finished below .500. All teams will finish 8-8, the playoff are canceled for being too competitive and everyone gets the #1 Draft Pick in 2009. The #1 Draft Pick will be divide into 32 pieces and each will receive their fair share of that player.

He's also working on a Super Bowl Reparation Program. Obama plans to take Super Bowl victories from teams that have won multiple Super Bowls and "spread those victory around" to teams that haven't been able achieve Super Bowl glory!

Barack Obama has decided to tax Clinton Portis' yards gained. He want to "spread those yard around" to RB who haven't had as good of a season.

So anyone who rushes for over 1100 this season will lose those extra yards and those yards will be given to all the RB's that rushed for under 1000 yards so that they have an opportunity to reach the 1000 yard milestone like everyone else.

In addition all teams that finish over .500 will be taxed on the extra wins and those wins will go to teams that finished below .500. All teams will finish 8-8, the playoff are canceled for being too competitive and everyone gets the #1 Draft Pick in 2009. The #1 Draft Pick will be divide into 32 pieces and each will receive their fair share of that player.

He's also working on a Super Bowl Reparation Program. Obama plans to take Super Bowl victories from teams that have won multiple Super Bowls and "spread those victory around" to teams that haven't been able achieve Super Bowl glory!

and finally don't tell me having no legitimate backup at center and relying on a rookie or Fabini at both guard spots and an undrafted second year guy at Tackle is good if any of your starters go down is good.

Posted by: zjfr2 | October 29, 2008 2:48 PM

Nice Jack, but you wanted them to draft a rookie to be ready if/when Daniels went out (based on one of your post from yesterday citing his age and injuries over the past few seasons) but not on OL. Nice...

Posted by: Curzon417 | October 29, 2008 3:01 PM | Report abuse

Yeah I wanted them to draft a rookie on the dline, I also would have liked to use some of that 9 million or so they had in cap space ....

Posted by: zjfr2 | October 29, 2008 3:27 PM |

Nice long response but you did not touch on the fact that you have a problem having a rookie as a back up if an OL vet gets injured but you would have been ok to have a rookie be the back-up if a DL vet goes down.

When we had a DL vet go down, the FO signed Taylor who also went down and is playing at around 60%, yet the back-ups we have have filled in nicely or have done even better than Taylor has played.

Bottom line, and as some have posted, we have had injuries to several of our starters and the back-ups have done more than ok as proven by the 6-2 record.

This FO has started to change when the JGibbs hire was made and continues at this time. The safety that was recently signed was a smart signing and proves that the FO is capable of making some good decisions.

Offensive player of the month this month, rookie of the month, and several weekly awards, not bad for a front office a lot people thinks really stinks. Just think what they will do when they get good at the whole “personnel” thing!

"Hat's off to The Truth for finally listening to some constructive criticism and reverting to his third-person persona. Keep up the good work!

Posted by: talent_evaluator | October 29, 2008 3:38 PM"

The Truth states again that The Truth chose to do this on The Truth's own. The Truth says if someone speaks like this to The Truth again, The Truth will leave this blog forever like The Truth did before.

filmchis, I typically discourage any political chatter up here, but that's the funniest thing I've read all day. Metaphorically it does relate to football, and it's just the dose of humor I need today as I'm struggling to make a decision on my absentee ballot!

and finally don't tell me having no legitimate backup at center and relying on a rookie or Fabini at both guard spots and an undrafted second year guy at Tackle is good if any of your starters go down is good.

Posted by: zjfr2 | October 29, 2008 2:48 PM

Nice Jack, but you wanted them to draft a rookie to be ready if/when Daniels went out (based on one of your post from yesterday citing his age and injuries over the past few seasons) but not on OL. Nice...

Posted by: Curzon417 | October 29, 2008 3:01 PM | Report abuse

Yeah I wanted them to draft a rookie on the dline, I also would have liked to use some of that 9 million or so they had in cap space ....

Posted by: zjfr2 | October 29, 2008 3:27 PM |

Nice long response but you did not touch on the fact that you have a problem having a rookie as a back up if an OL vet gets injured but you would have been ok to have a rookie be the back-up if a DL vet goes down.

When we had a DL vet go down, the FO signed Taylor who also went down and is playing at around 60%, yet the back-ups we have have filled in nicely or have done even better than Taylor has played.

Bottom line, and as some have posted, we have had injuries to several of our starters and the back-ups have done more than ok as proven by the 6-2 record.

This FO has started to change when the JGibbs hire was made and continues at this time. The safety that was recently signed was a smart signing and proves that the FO is capable of making some good decisions.

Offensive player of the month this month, rookie of the month, and several weekly awards, not bad for a front office a lot people thinks really stinks. Just think what they will do when they get good at the whole “personnel” thing!

Really nice post calling names like that, you choose to believe that the NFL is a season to season league, so does Snyder btw, I don't think it is. I'm entitled to my opinion and this is a forum for all fans, not just the ones who like Larry Michael can't handle any criticism of the team. I know at 6-2 everybody is just as happy as can be, but until we finish it off with a deep playoff run and then a solid offseason with sound decisions we are still a flash in the pan team not built on a stable base hoping that we have great health cause we drop off dramatically if we don't. To prove my point, look at our division rival Giants, they lost Osi and Strahan and haven't missed a beat because they had quality talented depth. somebody asked yesterday how they got that talent, of the 7 dlineman on there roster right now, only 3 were signed as free agents, the rest were drafted by the team none lower than the 4th round. We don't have an end on the roster as talented as either strahan or osi, we still don't have as talented a dline as they do without them and yet we have spent a high pick on our dline in years.

4th, it's not about winning anymore... Brees is transcendent, anybody can see that... you're such a fool for not seeing the value he brings to that team... he's on record-setting pace! Can't you see the value in that?

The entire starting line up of [insert local team] the NFL Team is injured. [insert] the NFL Team needs our help. We are going to FIGHT for [insert] the NFL Team. And, my friends, [insert] the NFL Team is going to WIN that Super Bowl. [blink, blink, blink]

Really nice post calling names like that, you choose to believe that the NFL is a season to season league, so does Snyder btw, I don't think it is. I'm entitled to my opinion and this is a forum for all fans, not just the ones who like Larry Michael can't handle any criticism of the team. I know at 6-2 everybody is just as happy as can be, but until we finish it off with a deep playoff run and then a solid offseason with sound decisions we are still a flash in the pan team not built on a stable base hoping that we have great health cause we drop off dramatically if we don't. To prove my point, look at our division rival Giants, they lost Osi and Strahan and haven't missed a beat because they had quality talented depth. somebody asked yesterday how they got that talent, of the 7 dlineman on there roster right now, only 3 were signed as free agents, the rest were drafted by the team none lower than the 4th round. We don't have an end on the roster as talented as either strahan or osi, we still don't have as talented a dline as they do without them and yet we have spent a high pick on our dline in years.

"Zorn pointed to Portis's player of the month honors as a team accolade, as the running game has been a byproduct of stout blocking from the fullback, tight ends and offensive line as well. "It's kind of a team award in my mind, too," Zorn said."

4th, it's not about winning anymore... Brees is transcendent, anybody can see that... you're such a fool for not seeing the value he brings to that team... he's on record-setting pace! Can't you see the value in that?

Nice long response but you did not touch on the fact that you have a problem having a rookie as a back up if an OL vet gets injured but you would have been ok to have a rookie be the back-up if a DL vet goes down.

Um yeah I did, I said we should have signed a 2nd tier end and drafted one high, Chris Wilson and Alex Buzbee were speed rushing projects at best showing some potential but hardly quality depth.

"Zorn pointed to Portis's player of the month honors as a team accolade, as the running game has been a byproduct of stout blocking from the fullback, tight ends and offensive line as well. "It's kind of a team award in my mind, too," Zorn said."

Nice long response but you did not touch on the fact that you have a problem having a rookie as a back up if an OL vet gets injured but you would have been ok to have a rookie be the back-up if a DL vet goes down.

Um yeah I did, I said we should have signed a 2nd tier end and drafted one high, Chris Wilson and Alex Buzbee were speed rushing projects at best showing some potential but hardly quality depth.

"Zorn pointed to Portis's player of the month honors as a team accolade, as the running game has been a byproduct of stout blocking from the fullback, tight ends and offensive line as well. "It's kind of a team award in my mind, too," Zorn said."

"...and everyone gets the #1 Draft Pick in 2009. The #1 Draft Pick will be divide into 32 pieces and each will receive their fair share of that player."

Posted by: filmchis

You got that backwards, moron. Obama and liberals are the ones that support progressive taxes, not the Mccain "spread the wealth" hating republicans. Your post should actually read like this:

'John Mccain abolishes the progressive draft selection policy, because he feels that the Super Bowl winner should have equal value in the draft as the worst team in the league. Therefore, Mccain gives every team in the league, no matter how well you did last year, an equal 1/32 share in the #1 pick in the draft.'

"...and everyone gets the #1 Draft Pick in 2009. The #1 Draft Pick will be divide into 32 pieces and each will receive their fair share of that player."

Posted by: filmchis

You got that backwards, moron. Obama and liberals are the ones that support progressive taxes, not the Mccain "spread the wealth" hating republicans. Your post should actually read like this:

'John Mccain abolishes the progressive draft selection policy, because he feels that the Super Bowl winner should have equal value in the draft as the worst team in the league. Therefore, Mccain gives every team in the league, no matter how well you did last year, an equal 1/32 share in the #1 pick in the draft.'

"...and everyone gets the #1 Draft Pick in 2009. The #1 Draft Pick will be divide into 32 pieces and each will receive their fair share of that player."

Posted by: filmchis

You got that backwards, moron. Obama and liberals are the ones that support progressive taxes, not the Mccain "spread the wealth" hating republicans. Your post should actually read like this:

'John Mccain abolishes the progressive draft selection policy, because he feels that the Super Bowl winner should have equal value in the draft as the worst team in the league. Therefore, Mccain gives every team in the league, no matter how well you did last year, an equal 1/32 share in the #1 pick in the draft.'

Nate - So if Brees and the Saints end up 7-9 0r 8-8 with no playoffs and Brees breaks Marino's 5,000 yard passing record, he should get the MVP of THE LEAGUE instead of Portis if he goes over 1,800 yards and alot of touchdowns and we go 12-4 and make the playoffs, and a bye????

Poolman, I am a "white", and I am voting for a black man. So are many many other "whites" that I know. I wish your question wasn't relevant to american politics... However, I don't think politics has a place in RI.

We don't have an end on the roster as talented as either strahan or osi, we still don't have as talented a dline as they do without them and yet we have spent a high pick on our dline in years.

Posted by: zjfr2 | October 29, 2008 4:07 PM | Report abuse

Nope.. we spent those picks on the secondary. While I do agree that we should see more D-line and O-Line draftees coming into the club, I don't see this as the FO being crazy, just that they valuate things differently.

And man do we have a pretty good secondary to shut down all those good receivers for as long as they do... huh???

Nate - So if Brees and the Saints end up 7-9 0r 8-8 with no playoffs and Brees breaks Marino's 5,000 yard passing record, he should get the MVP of THE LEAGUE instead of Portis if he goes over 1,800 yards and alot of touchdowns and we go 12-4 and make the playoffs, and a bye????

We don't have an end on the roster as talented as either strahan or osi, we still don't have as talented a dline as they do without them and yet we have spent a high pick on our dline in years.

Posted by: zjfr2 | October 29, 2008 4:07 PM | Report abuse

Nope.. we spent those picks on the secondary. While I do agree that we should see more D-line and O-Line draftees coming into the club, I don't see this as the FO being crazy, just that they valuate things differently.

And man do we have a pretty good secondary to shut down all those good receivers for as long as they do... huh???

Hey spizzle, that makes no sense, is technically inaccurate and lacks any humor whatsoever.

If you're going to engage in Redskins/football/political commentary with your own particular slant, at least come up with something more clever than that. And watch with the name calling cuz it can get pretty ugly up here in a hurry.

4th, I was actually seconding your assertion that it would be bogus to reward the MVP to a guy who had a statistically eye-popping/record-breaking/all-time-greatest season on a mediocre team instead of a guy who had a statistically great season on a successful team.

The Truth would also like to take this platform to state that The Truth is not, in fact, be running for President of the United States of America.

If The Truth were running for President of the United States of America, The Truth would not extend an offer to Justin Tryon to be Vice President of the United States of America. The Truth dislikes Justin Tryon and also thinks Justin Tryon would make an awful Vice President of the United States of America.

The Truth will not answer anymore questions about being the President of the United States of America.

Hey spizzle, that makes no sense, is technically inaccurate and lacks any humor whatsoever.

Posted by: RambleOn

I apologize for the name-calling.

However, if you understand (1) the purpose of progressive tax policy, and (2) the purpose of having a progressive draft selection based on the results of the previous year, then you would realize that the analogy in fact makes perfect sense.

4th, I was actually seconding your assertion that it would be bogus to reward the MVP to a guy who had a statistically eye-popping/record-breaking/all-time-greatest season on a mediocre team instead of a guy who had a statistically great season on a successful team.

Offensive player of the month this month, rookie of the month, and several weekly awards, not bad for a front office a lot people thinks really stinks. Just think what they will do when they get good at the whole “personnel” thing!

Hey spizzle, that makes no sense, is technically inaccurate and lacks any humor whatsoever.

Posted by: RambleOn

I apologize for the name-calling.

However, if you understand (1) the purpose of progressive tax policy, and (2) the purpose of having a progressive draft selection based on the results of the previous year, then you would realize that the analogy in fact makes perfect sense.

They are 2 behind us against the run and 6 better than us against the pass, they have one more takeaway than us, and 2 less giveaways, overall they have given up 30 less points than we have, and 325 less yards, they have 26 sacks to our 10, 8 interceptions to our 5, and 1 fumble recovery to our 3. Mind you they have already had their bye so their yardage is lower then it should be but we have had an extra game for sacks takeaways.

"No need to apologize for being 6-2" London Fletcher on the Jim Rome show.

" We're a good football team, that has a long way to go before we're a great football team. We have to play better, can't make the mistakes as we get into the second half of the season, especially in the late stretch run of trying to make it to the playoffs and beat the better teams. If we continue to make the make the mistakes that we've made, we will be upset with ourselves.